World Series of Fighting 8: What To Watch For

Justin Gaethje is 3-0 with three finishes since joining the
World Series of Fighting. | Photo: Keith
Mills/Sherdog.com

The
World Series of Fighting will return to the Sunshine State on
Saturday, when WSOF
8 goes down from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Hollywood, Fla. The show’s main draw airs live on NBC Sports
Network, while the undercard streams immediately prior on
Sherdog.com.

Here is what to watch for at WSOF 8:

Gaethje’s Growth

Justin
Gaethje seems to be improving with every fight, and I find it
slightly unsettling.

The prospect was impressive as a greenhorn, but he has looked like
a straight killer during his WSOF run. Gaethje made his promotional
debut in March, cutting Gesias
Cavalcante and forcing the cageside doctor to wave off the
contest. The 10-fight pro next disposed of onetime
Ultimate Fighting Championship talent Brian Cobb,
chopping down “The Bandit” with leg kicks in June before separating
Dan
Lauzon from his consciousness on Oct. 26. The hard-hitting
southpaw was originally scheduled to rematch “JZ” for the inaugural
lightweight title at WSOF 8, but that booking was soon scrapped due
to a Cavalcante injury. Lewis
Gonzalez was then called upon to face Gaethje, but he was also
forced to withdraw.

Now paired with up-and-comer Richard
Patishnock, Gaethje should find favor with the bookmakers ahead
of the show. Can the prospect take care of his business and cement
his status as the WSOF’s top lightweight?

Royal ‘Rumble’

With a victory over Mike Kyle,
Anthony
Johnson will receive a shot at the WSOF’s inaugural light
heavyweight title, according to World Series of Fighting President
Ray
Sefo.

Though Johnson has explicitly stated he is solely focused on Kyle,
it is undeniable that this bout holds great significance for his
career. Johnson’s contract with the WSOF will be complete after his
fight with “Mak,” and I would imagine the Blackzilians rep and his
management will then perform their due diligence at the negotiating
table.

If “Rumble” is victorious, he will not only be next in line for a
crack at the gold, but he will also hold more leverage if he
decides to sign another deal. Johnson is one of the promotion’s
most recognizable names, and his profile would no doubt continue to
rise if he ends this fight in spectacular fashion.

‘Jag’s’ Jump

Photo: K.
Mills/Sherdog.com

Aguilar has won seven straight.

Jessica
Aguilar is regarded by many as the sport’s top 115-pound
talent, and while it may seem like a waste for her to fight in the
WSOF as the UFC opens its new strawweight division, “Jag” certainly
does not look at it that way.

Everything I have heard from Aguilar has indicated she is content
with her decision to sign with the WSOF. The former Bellator
MMA talent is now poised to stand tall as the face of the
organization’s newborn women’s division on the strength of two
victories over Megumi
Fujii, arguably the greatest female fighter this sport has ever
known.

The difficult aspect of this situation for Aguilar is that due to
the WSOF’s current lack of depth at 115 pounds, it appears she will
be placed in some tough situations. If she continues to win, fine.
That is what is expected. If she loses, however, it will likely be
to a fighter without the name recognition to justify the
defeat.

Even so, I am interested to see what awaits “Jag” in the WSOF
decagon, and you should be, too.

Underdog Audacity

Patishnock, Kyle and Alida Gray
are not favored to win their fights, but do not be surprised if one
of these underdogs bucks the bookmakers.

Patishnock was already training for a fight with Luis
Palomino when he got the call to replace Gonzalez, so the
lightweight should be in good shape when the cage door shuts,
despite the short-notice nature of his new bout. The seven-fight
pro has acquitted himself well thus far in his WSOF stint,
finishing Igor Gracie
in March and then outpointing Igor’s brother, Gregor
Gracie, on Sept. 14.

In the co-headliner, Kyle could be looking at his biggest victory
in recent memory, should he overcome the hard-hitting Johnson.
After retiring at the beginning of 2013, Kyle promptly un-retired
and went 1-1 in his next two fights, demolishing Travis Wiuff
before dropping a hard-fought decision to former UFC champion
Andrei
Arlovski.

Meanwhile, Gray will look to knock Aguilar from her perch and
forcibly insert herself into the strawweight top 10 in just her
fifth pro fight. The 36-year-old brings an elite judo background
and serious punching power into her WSOF debut. She may well be the
stronger competitor on fight night, and if her vicious knockout of
Soannia
Tiem is any indication, Aguilar would be foolish to drop her
hands at any point.

Which, if any, of these underdogs will win the day and shake up
their division?

Bantamweight Breakout

Cody
Bollinger and Tyson Nam are
both exciting bantamweight talents, but I do not think either of
them can afford a loss right now.

Bollinger saw his star fall hard as a member of “The Ultimate
Fighter 18,” eating his way out of the fighter house and quitting
during his weight cut -- a maneuver that would later be replicated
by Anthony
Gutierrez. Nam, meanwhile, put five years of pro competition to
good use in knocking out Bellator champion Eduardo
Dantas in August 2012. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, his
next fight would end with him staring up at the lights after
running into a buzzsaw named Marlon
Moraes.

Bollinger now has the opportunity to show people he should not be
defined by a single moment of weakness. Likewise, Nam can prove
that his victory over Dantas was no fluke with a win over the
much-hyped 22-year-old. Which 135-pounder will avoid his second
loss in his last three fights?